Career Center

The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Senior Clinical Social Worker is administratively within the Mental Health Service Line, with primary assignment to the PCMHI treatment team. This position is primarily located at the Uptown Division of the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to the CSWE website (www.cswe.org) to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree levels. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Knowledge, Skills And Abilities: In addition to the experience and education listed above, candidates must be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities listed in the job announcement: a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Preferred Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years of experience as a licensed Social Worker (LMSW, LISW, LCSW) working with active duty/Veteran clientele and interdisciplinary teams. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 dated September 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Light Lifting (15 lbs. and under); Light Carrying (15 lbs. and under); Both hands required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Hearing (aid permitted); emotional and mental stability. ["This is an extended announcement; applicants will be reviewed and referred on a bi-weekly basis; the announcement will remain open until the positions are filled. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker participates in a full range of direct patient care, performs assessments, level of care determinations, evidence-based psychotherapy as well as treatment planning and program development. The incumbent functions as part of multidisciplinary primary care teams, and delivers brief, consultation-based services to Veterans within that setting. Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Provides a full range of mental health services to Veterans enrolled in the Primary Care clinics, including diagnostic, psychological, and cognitive screening assessments; psychotherapy; psychoeducation and caregiver support; and prevention-oriented services, with an emphasis on the application of time-limited, evidence-based approaches. Utilizes evidence-based and best practice approaches to assist Veterans, caregivers, and staff in managing behavioral factors associated with chronic medical problems and in promoting medical compliance. Functions as a full member of the Primary Care clinic teams and provides ongoing team consultation services to other Primary Care clinic team members. Provides clinical supervision to health profession trainees. Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. Designs, implements, and evaluates health care delivery programs for Primary Care patient populations. Implements process and outcome measures to evaluate the impact of providing specialty mental health services on Primary Care programs and patients. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces as discussed with supervisor. Actively participates in local, state, and national professional organizations. Perform all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F00816 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized to highly qualified candidates. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

Return to Search Results